Raising Kellan

The Future City Health & Wellness Fair was a resounding success! Coming up next is a similar event at Bruce Community Center on Jan 25, 2025, from 1-3 pm. In this episode, I chat with Lisa Vinson about the work done by the Lions Club and the revitalized Dyersburg Lions Club which is actively recruiting members. For more information contact Mark Cantara at mcantara57@gmail.com or Robin Cantara...

A wheelchair basketball clinic is to be held in Charleston, South Carolina on January 11, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Charleston Baptist Church. The clinic is open to individuals aged 5-17 with physical disabilities, but the organizers encourage anyone interested in the sport or supporting the community to attend. The goal of the clinic is to provide an opportunity for wheelchair basketb...

Welcome to the latest episode of Raising Kellan, where host Marsh Naidoo chats with Victor Mclin, the dynamic director of Bruce Community Center in Dyersburg, Tennessee. As we wrap up 2024 and look forward to a promising new year, Marsh and Victor discuss the upcoming community health screenings scheduled for January 4th at Future City Rec Center and January 25th at Bruce Community Center. These e...

In episode 128 of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo continues the enlightening conversation with Kristen Evans, co-author of "How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities." This episode serves as part two of the discussion, following Todd Evans' insights in part one. Kristen, a licensed master social worker, shares her motivation behind the book, emphasizing the need...

In this episode of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo engages in an enlightening conversation with Todd Evans, co-author of the book "How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Your Children with Disabilities." Todd shares his journey with his wife Kristen, from their initial meeting in college to navigating the complexities of raising children with special needs while maintaining a strong ma...

In episode 126 of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo welcomes DinaLynn Rosenbush, a parenting coach, speaker, and experienced speech and language pathologist, to discuss the intricacies of communication in children, particularly in the presence of speech delays. Dinalynn, who hosts the acclaimed Language of Play podcast, shares her insights on how parents can better understand and support their chi...

In episode 125 of the Raising Kellan Podcast, host Marsh Naidoo welcomes Vanessa Naidoo, a pediatric occupational therapist from Hernando, Mississippi, to share her curated Christmas gift list for children with disabilities. Vanessa's list is filled with creative and thoughtful ideas that promote independence, skill development, and fun for kids of all ages. Vanessa emphasizes the importance of gi...

Marsh Naidoo chats with Brandon Scarmardo, a Manager at Mental Health and Development Services in Jackson, Tennessee, about the MAPS program. This innovative three-year pilot initiative, facilitated by the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA), is designed to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by equipping them with skills for independent living and employment....

Woody Tatman is an occupational therapist and a certified driving rehabilitation specialist with West Tennessee Healthcare . He evaluates individuals, including those with disabilities, the elderly, and those with cognitive or physical impairments, to determine their ability to drive safely. He can recommend vehicle modifications and provide training to help people learn to drive according to thei...

In this insightful episode of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo sits down with Don Tate and Kim Shofinski from the Tennessee State Parks to discuss the incredible strides being made toward accessibility and inclusivity in outdoor recreation. As the Fall unfolds in Tennessee, there's no better time to explore the state's natural beauty, and the Tennessee State Parks are committed to ensuring that e...

In this episode of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo reconnects with Dana Kramer to discuss an essential topic for families raising children with disabilities: home accessibility. Dana, a long-time friend and recurring guest, shares her recent experience remodeling her home to better accommodate her son Levi, who has cerebral palsy. The conversation covers practical tips and insights on making liv...

Mia Fox DPT, is a yoga teacher, physical therapist, and rock climber. Mia talks about how she got started in rock climbing and the therapeutic benefits it provides. The conversation then shifts to discussing  ⁠Memphis Rox⁠ , a rock climbing community, and the adaptive climbing program they offer through the ⁠Adaptive Climbing Group.⁠   Mia explains that the adaptive climbing program aims to create...

Join host Marsh Naidoo in this episode of Raising Kellan as she talks with Dennis Anderson, CEO of Anderson Consulting. Dennis shares his expertise on digital accessibility and safety, providing valuable insights for parents navigating the digital world. 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Dennis Anderson's background 05:00 Business IT services and government contracts 10:00 Residential IT services and a...

In this episode of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo sits down with Jeff Strand from the Tennessee Disability Coalition to delve into the significant legislative changes in 2024 and what's on the horizon for 2025. Jeff provides an insightful update on key bills, including the successful passage of the TCA cleanup bill, the impactful Right to Repair legislation for wheelchair maintenance, and t...

In this enlightening episode of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo is joined by Rev Dr. Felicia Ingram, the newly appointed pastor at Salters Chapel AME Church in Dyersburg, TN. Felicia is a native of Dyersburg and a graduate of Dyersburg High School. She highlights her plans for engaging the youth and fostering a supportive community. Don't miss out on the upcoming Youth Fun Day on June 8, thi...

In early May 2024, our Dyersburg First United Methodist Church church family went on a camp retreat to Camp NaCoMe in Centerville, Tennessee. In this episode, Kellan journals his time at Camp as he builds his capacity to tell his story. Enjoy! Other links: https://youtu.be/yWNwOpg_qbA?si=gqPGtHI4V9vqzNBO

Welcome to episode 115 of Raising Kellan, where we delve into the harmonious world of music therapy. Our guest is Martha Summa Chadwick, a virtuoso pianist, music educator, and advocate for the transformative power of music therapy. Join us as we explore the neural symphony of music's impact on the brain and how it can be a powerful therapeutic tool for individuals across the lifespan. This ep...

In today's episode 114, Carolyn Kiel from Beyond Six Seconds Podcast joins us. Carolyn talks to neurodivergent entrepreneurs, creators, advocates, and more about their lives and identities, their stories, shatters misconceptions, breaks stigma, and showcases the vibrance of neurodiversity. As always, remember, the content on this podcast is for your information only, and if you seek specific a...

Thank you for joining us on Raising Kellan, a podcast to empower parents raising children with disabilities. Kellan is starting to build his breath control and confidence on the mike! You will be hearing from him more as he begins to tell his own story! Today's episode is dedicated to the memory of Steven Harrell

Levi, Drake and Kellan chat on their annual meetup to honor CP Awareness Day. Timeline: 2:52 Drake's new job at Dyersburg State Community College 3:37 Kellan's first podcast! 4:21 Levi's 7th Grade will be at High School! 5:16 Drake's upcoming engagement 5:52 Levi's Trip to Gatlinburg 7:17 Levi's therapy 9:11 Kellans' classes 10:03 Levi's favorite subject 11:30 Coach...

Jeff Strand Coordinator of Government and External Affairs from the Tennessee Disability Coalition will discuss the Priority Bills for Part 2/2 of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly. Here is a link to what we discussed last year (2023) on Episode 78 TDC Priority Bills for 2024 1)  TennCare for Working Adults , where persons with disabilities can potentially buy into TennCare services (like HCBS)...

In this podcast episode, Leanne Pirece from Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) talks about this unique program through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Pre-ETS is a program that helps students between the ages of 14 and 22 with disabilities prepare for life after high school. The program offers services such as career counseling, advocating for oneself, budgeting, and basic li...

In this episode of the Raising Kellan podcast host Marsh Naidoo interviews Jennifer Cunningham, Vice President of Client Services at the Star Center in Jackson, Tennessee. They discuss assistive technology services such as pencil grips, screen readers, and augmentative communication devices for those who cannot speak. The Star Center provides vision services, including orientation and mobility tra...

Host Marsh Naidoo interviews Dr. Jennifer Graves, the president of the Star Center in Jackson, Tennessee . Dr. Graves discusses her connection to disabilities and her passion for helping individuals with differing abilities. She explains how the Star Center was founded by Margaret and Chuck Doumitt who wanted to provide services for their children with Batten's Disease. The center offers a wid...

In this podcast episode, the host, Marsh Naidoo, interviews Kim Larrick about their experience at Hope Heals Camp. Kim shares that her son, Ben, has a rare genetic condition called Menkes disease, which affects his mobility and other aspects of his health. Her daughter, Kelsey, has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Kim and her family learned about Hope Heals Camp through Instagram and decided to apply....